Electronic equipment system for vehicle

ABSTRACT

An electronic equipment system includes a housing  20  and a plurality of modules  31  to  35,  which are removably built in and fixed to the housing  20.  The modules  31  to  34  includes a liquid crystal display  31   a ; a graphic control circuit  32   a   1  and a navigation control circuit  32   a   2;  an MD unit  33   a ; and a CD unit  34   a , respectively. The module  35  is formed through integration of control sections, such as constant-voltage circuits for power supply, which achieve a function that is common among the graphic control circuit and the navigation control circuit, the MD unit, and the CD unit. Thus, it becomes possible to replace only necessary one among the modules  31  to  34,  thereby reducing cost necessary for upgrading of the system.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vehicle electronic-equipment systemwhich is mounted on a vehicle and includes a plurality of electronicequipment subsystems each performing a certain operation in response toan operation of an occupant.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, such a vehicle electronic-equipment system is configured inthe form of an aggregate of subsystems including a navigation system; anaudio system including a radio and a cassette deck; a compact disk (CD)system; and a mini-disc (MD) system. Each of these subsystems iscomposed of a single electronic equipment unit, or a unit groupincluding two electronic equipment units, in order to provide a requiredspecific operation.

A manner of mounting the above-described vehicle electronic-equipmentsystem onto a vehicle will be described with reference to FIG. 6. In theillustrated example, an electronic control unit 61 for a navigationsystem is disposed within a trunk of the vehicle; and a display controlunit 62, which communicates with the electronic control unit 61 anddisplays necessary information on a display, is disposed within aninstrument panel 66 of the vehicle, together with an electronicequipment unit 63 for an audio system, an electronic equipment unit 64for a CD system, and an electronic equipment unit 65 for an MD system.

As schematically shown in FIG. 6, the electronic control unit 61 for thenavigation system includes a power supply circuit 61 b and acommunication control section 61 a for communication with other modules.The display control unit 62 includes a communication control section 62a, a power supply circuit 62 b, a graphic control circuit 62 c forcontrolling the display (graphics) on the display, and a switch circuit62 d for processing switch input. The electronic equipment unit 63 forthe audio system includes a communication control section 63 a, a powersupply circuit 63 b, a radio tuner circuit 63 c, a switch circuit 63 d,and an audio circuit 63 e for amplifying an input signal and outputtingan amplified signal.

The electronic equipment unit 64 for the CD system includes acommunication control section 64 a, a power supply circuit 64 b, anaudio circuit 64 c, a switch circuit 64 d, and a mechanical section 64 eincluding a mechanism for driving a CD so as to read information fromthe CD. Similarly, the electronic equipment unit 65 for the MD systemincludes a communication control section 65 a, a power supply circuit 65b, an audio circuit 65 c, a switch circuit 65 d, and a mechanicalsection 65 e including a mechanism for driving an MD so as to readinformation from the MD.

Incidentally, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No.2000-95032 discloses a system which is composed of a base unit includingan audio equipment control circuit, a switch input circuit, an operationpanel, a connector, and a display device; and a plurality of moduleswhich are removably fixed to the base unit. This technique enables freeselection and combination of audio equipment units to thereby enableeasy upgrading of the system.

However, the electronic equipment units 61 to 65 used in theabove-described general system redundantly include functional sectionswhich could be used commonly among the electronic equipment units 61 to65; e.g., communication control sections 61 a, 62 a, 63 a, 64 a, and 65a; power supply circuits 61 b, 62 b, 63 b, 64 b, and 65 b; switchcircuits 62 d, 63 d, 64 d, and 65 d; and audio circuits 63 e, 64 c, and65 c (hereinafter, those sections which can be used commonly among twoor more electronic equipment units may be referred to as “controlsections”), thereby raising a problem of increased cost. Further, at thetime of upgrading or modification of the system, replacement must beperformed on a unit-by-unit basis. Therefore, the control section thatdoes not have to be replaced is inevitably replaced, also raising aproblem of increased cost.

Meanwhile, the technique disclosed by Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 2000-95032 enables free selection and attachment ofmodules which are suitable for (adapted to) the audio equipment controlcircuit contained in the base unit. However, when a unit which is notsuitable for the audio equipment control circuit is to be attached, thebase unit itself must be replaced with another base unit, resulting inreplacement of switches, a display device, etc., which are not requiredto be replaced. As a result, cost involved in upgrading increases.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished in order to solve theabove-described problems and provides an electronic equipment system fora vehicle which includes an operation section, a plurality of peculiarsections each having a peculiar configuration for effecting a specificoperation and being physically separated from other sections, a controlsection having a physically integrated portion which provides a commonfunction to two or more physically separated peculiar sections, and ahousing, the operation section, the plurality of peculiar sections, andthe control section being mounted to the housing, and the system beingconfigured in such a manner that in response to operation of theoperation section, one peculiar section among the plurality of peculiarsections and the control section cooperate to provide the specificoperation of the one peculiar section, wherein at least one of thepeculiar sections and the control section are configured to be mountedto and removed from the housing independently.

Since mounting and removal (replacement) of at least one peculiarsection and the control section can be performed individually; i.e.,since some of the peculiar sections and the control section can bereplaced individually without replacement of the operation section, thepeculiar section, and/or the control section not required to bereplaced, only a portion required to be replaced for modification orupgrading of the system can be replaced. As a result, cost involved inthe replacement can be suppressed. Further, in the case in which theexisting control section is not suitable for (cannot cope with) anupgraded peculiar function section, the control section can be replacedwith a different control section, independently of the operationsection. Thus, the cost involved in the replacement of the controlsection can be suppressed.

Further, in the control section, portions which provide a commonfunction to at least two or more peculiar sections among peculiarsections of a plurality of electronic equipment subsystems arephysically integrated

This configuration eliminates useless redundancy in the entire system,and thus can reduce the system cost.

Preferably, the peculiar sections and the control section are removablymounted to the housing which is removably mounted to the vehicle.

This configuration can unify and simplify the casings of electronicequipment units, which have conventionally been provided individually,and thus can reduce the system cost. Further, this configuration enablesthe electronic equipment system to be assembled in a line independent ofa vehicle assembly line, and then built into the vehicle as anintegrated unit. This facilitates the operation of building the systeminto the vehicle.

The housing is removably mounted to the vehicle and has an opening in aface which faces the rear of the vehicle when the housing is mounted tothe vehicle; and the at least one peculiar section and the controlsection are configured to be inserted into the housing from the openingof the housing and be removably mounted to the housing.

Preferably, the opening of the housing is closed by a panel removablyattached to the housing; and the operation section is provided on thepanel in a physically integrated manner.

Since this configuration enables integration of the operation sectionand a cover of the housing, system cost can be reduced. Further, whenthe panel is fabricated to have a design suitable for each vehiclemodel, the peculiar sections and the control section are not required tohave a design suitable for each vehicle model. This reduces the numberof types of parts to thereby reduce the system cost.

Preferably, the operation section of the panel includes a plurality ofswitches each being electrically connected to the peculiar section orthe control section via a switch circuit integrally provided on thepanel.

In this configuration, since a conventional switch circuit is integratedwith the operation section, the switch circuit is not required to bereplaced simultaneously with replacement of the peculiar section or thecontrol section. Thus, cost involved in upgrading or the like can besuppressed.

Preferably, the peculiar portions and the control section are formed oncorresponding mounting substrates; the housing has a plurality of slitson an inner wall surface thereof; and the peculiar portions and thecontrol section are fixed to the housing in a state in which edgeportions of the mounting substrates are received by the correspondingslits.

Since this configuration enables precise positioning of the peculiarsections and the control section through a simple operation of insertingthe substrates of the peculiar sections and the control section into thecorresponding slits, the system can be manufactured with ease, and thepositional relationship between the operation section and the peculiarsections and that between the operation section and the control sectioncan be maintained with ease.

An embodiment of the electronic equipment system for a vehicle accordingto the present invention will now be described with reference to thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing a state in which electronic equipment unitsaccording to the present invention are built into a vehicle.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a housing shown in FIG. 1 andmodules to be built into the housing.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the electronic equipment unitsshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the operation panel shown in FIG.1.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of an electronic equipment unit shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of conventional electronicequipment units.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic equipment system 10 according to thepresent invention is built into a space 12, which is provided within aninstrument panel 11 of a vehicle to be located between a driver seat anda front passenger seat, and is fixed to the vehicle. The electronicequipment system 10 provides a specific operation (such as navigation ormusic play) in accordance with operation by a driver or a frontpassenger. The electronic equipment system 10 is composed of a housing20, which is completely accommodated within the space 12 and fixed tothe vehicle by use of bolts; a plurality of modules 31 to 35, which areremovably built in and fixed to the housing 20, as shown in FIG. 2(exploded perspective view of the system) and FIG. 3 (schematicsectional view of the system); and an operation panel 40, which isremovably fixed to the housing 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 20 is a box of a generally rectangularparallelepiped shape. A face (parallel to a Y-Z plane in FIG. 2) of thehousing 20 which is to face the rear of the vehicle (the positivedirection along the X-axis of FIG. 2) upon being built into the vehicleis opened. Hereinafter, this opened face will be called the “open face.”

A plurality of right-hand slit-forming members 22R made of resin arebonded to an inner surface of a right-hand side wall 21R of the housing20. Each of the slit-forming members 22R extends along a direction (theX-axis direction of FIG. 2) substantially perpendicular to the open faceof the housing 20 and has a slit 22R1 formed therein. Similarly, aplurality of left-hand slit-forming members 22L made of resin are bondedto an inner surface of a left-hand side wall 21L of the housing 20 atpositions which correspond to those of the right-hand slit-formingmembers 22R with respect to the height direction (the Z-axis directionof FIG. 2). Each of the slit-forming members 22L extends along thedirection substantially perpendicular to the open face of the housing 20and has a slit 22L1 formed therein. In other words, the housing 20 isprovided with a plurality of pairs of slits (rails) 22R1 and 22L1 whichextend substantially along the front/rear direction of the vehicle (theX-axis direction of FIG. 2) when the housing 20 is built into thevehicle and are opened toward the center line (center) of the housing 20with respect to the width direction (the Y-axis direction of FIG. 2).

Within a plane which substantially coincides with the open face of thehousing 20 are provided a pair of flanges 23 which project outward fromthe left-hand and right-hand side walls 21L and 21R with respect to thewidth direction and extend along the height direction. A plurality ofbolt holes 23 a are formed in each of the flanges 23 at predeterminedintervals along the height direction. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, anopening 24 a which an integrated connector 36 penetrates is formed in aface (back face) of the housing 20 opposite the open face; i.e., a face24 which is to face the front of the vehicle (the negative directionalong the X-axis) when the housing 20 is built into the vehicle.

The module 31 shown in FIG. 2 is composed of a TFT (thin filmtransistor)-type liquid crystal display 31 a which has a substantiallyrectangular parallelepiped shape, and a mounting substrate 31 b. Themounting substrate 31 b is a thin plate which has a rectangular shapelarger than the screen of the display 31 a and whose longer sides have adimension substantially equal to the distance between the left-hand andright-hand side walls 21L and 21R of the housing 20. Connectors (notshown) for connection with a power supply and for communication with themodules 32 and 35 are provided at a lower portion of the display 31 a.

On each shorter side of the mounting substrate 31 b, there are providedmounting portions 31 c, which are formed of substantially rectangularthin plates extending outward from the mounting substrate 31 b withrespect to the widthwise direction. A bolt hole is formed in each of themounting portions 31 c. By virtue of the above configuration, the module31 can be removably fixed to the housing 20 by use of bolts which arepassed through the bolt holes of the mounting portions 31 c and screwedinto the bolt holes 23 a of the flanges 23.

The module 32 is composed of a circuit board 32 a and a mountingsubstrate 32 b. The mounting substrate 32 b is a rectangular thin platewhose shorter sides have a dimension substantially equal to the distancebetween (the bottom portions) of the left-hand and right-hand slits 22L1and 22R1 of the housing 20. The circuit board 32 a is fixed onto themounting substrate 32 b. On a plane perpendicular to the mountingsubstrate 32 b, mounting portions 32 c are provided to be located atopposite ends of one shorter side of the mounting substrate 32 b. Eachof the mounting portions 32 c is formed by a rectangular thin plate andhas a bolt hole formed therein. By virtue of the above configuration,the module 32 can be built into the housing 20 in such a manner that thelonger-side edges of the mounting substrate 32 b are inserted into theslits 22R1 and 22L1, and then can be removably fixed to the housing 20by use of bolts which are passed through the bolt holes of the mountingportions 32 c and screwed into the bolt holes 23 a of the flanges 23.

As schematically shown in FIG. 3, a graphic control circuit 32 a 1serving as a first peculiar section for controlling the display(graphics) on the display 31 a and a navigation control circuit 32 a 2serving as a second peculiar section are formed on the circuit board 32a shown in FIG. 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a connector 32 a 3 forconnection with the power supply and for communication with the module35, and a connector 32 a 4 for connection with the module 31 areprovided on the circuit board 32 a at locations which are to be locatedadjacent to the open face of the housing 20 when the mounting substrate32 b is mounted to the housing 20.

The module 33 is composed of an MD unit 33 a and a mounting substrate 33b. The MD unit 33 a serves as a third peculiar section which has amechanism (mechanical section) necessary for MD reproduction; i.e., apeculiar structure for performing reproduction of information stored inthe MD. The mounting substrate 33 b is formed by a thin plate having thesame shape as the mounting substrate 32 b; and the MD unit 33 a is fixedonto the mounting substrate 33 b. The mounting substrate 33 b isprovided with mounting portions 33 c, which are formed by substantiallyrectangular thin plates as in the case of the mounting portions 32 c;and a bolt hole is formed in each of the mounting portions 33 c. Byvirtue of the above configuration, as in the case of the module 32, themodule 33 can be removably fixed to the housing 20 by use of bolts.Further, a connector 33 a 1 for connection with the power supply and forcommunication with the module 35 is provided on the MD unit 33 a at alocation which is to become adjacent to the open face of the housing 20when the mounting substrate 33 b is mounted to the housing 20.

The module 34 is composed of a CD unit 34 a and a mounting substrate 34b. The CD unit 34 a serves as a fourth peculiar section which has amechanism (mechanical section) necessary for CD reproduction; i.e., apeculiar structure for performing reproduction of information stored inthe CD. The mounting substrate 34 b is formed by a thin plate having thesame shape as the mounting substrate 32 b; and the CD unit 34 a is fixedonto the mounting substrate 34 b. The mounting substrate 34 b isprovided with mounting portions 34 c, which are formed by substantiallyrectangular thin plates as in the case of the mounting portions 32 c;and a bolt hole is formed in each of the mounting portions 34 c. Byvirtue of the above configuration, as in the case of the module 32, themodule 34 can be removably fixed to the housing 20 by use of bolts.Further, a connector 34 a 1 for connection with the power supply and forcommunication with the module 35 is provided on the CD unit 34 a at alocation which is to become adjacent to the open face of the housing 20when the mounting substrate 34 b is mounted to the housing 20.

The module 35 constitutes a control section which achieves functions (inthe illustrated example, supply of constant-voltage power, amplificationof signals, etc.) which are common among two or more of the graphiccontrol circuit 32 a 1 and the navigation control circuit 32 a 2 of themodule 32; the MD unit 33 a; and the CD unit 34 a. The module 35 iscomposed of a circuit board 35 a and a mounting substrate 35 b. Themounting substrate 35 b is formed by a thin plate having the same shapeas the mounting substrate 32 b; and the circuit board 35 a is fixed ontothe mounting substrate 35 b. The mounting substrate 35 b is providedwith mounting portions 35 c, which are formed by substantiallyrectangular thin plates as in the case of the mounting portions 32 c;and a bolt hole is formed in each of the mounting portions 35 c. Byvirtue of the above configuration, as in the case of the module 32, themodule 35 can be removably fixed to the housing 20 by use of bolts.

As schematically shown in FIG. 3, a constant-voltage circuit(constant-voltage source) 35 a 1 for the modules 31 to 35, acommunication control section 35 a 2 for communicating with the modules31 to 34 and other vehicle electronic equipment, an audio circuit 35 a 3including an amplifier, and a radio tuner 35 a 4 are formed integrallyon the circuit board 35 a shown in FIG. 2. The audio circuit 35 a 3 isconfigured so as to amplify signals from the MD unit 33 a, the CD unit34 a, and the tuner circuit 35 a 4 and to output the signals viaspeakers (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, connectors 35 a 5, 35 a 6, and 35 a 7 for powersupply to and for communication with the modules 31, 33, and 34,respectively, and a connector 35 a 8 for connection with a switchcircuit, which will be described later, are provided on the circuitboard 35 a at locations which are to become adjacent to the open face ofthe housing 20 when the mounting substrate 35 b is mounted to thehousing 20; and the above-described integrated connector 36 is providedon the circuit board 35 a at a location adjacent to the back face 24 ofthe housing 20.

The operation panel 40 includes an integrated operation section which isoperated by an occupant in order to cause the modules 31 to 35 toperform specific operations. The operation panel 40 is exposed to theinterior of the vehicle when the housing 20 is built into the vehicle.Therefore, the surface of the operation panel 40 is designed to providea sense of unity with the instrument panel 11. Further, the operationpanel 40 includes a plurality of operation elements 41 such as switchbuttons; a window 42 for the display 31 a; an opening 43 for enablinginsertion of an MD into the MD unit 33 a and removal of the MDtherefrom; an opening 44 for enabling insertion of a CD into the CD unit34 a and removal of the CD therefrom; and blow-off ducts 45 for a roomair conditioner of the vehicle.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, a switch circuit 46 is integrally providedon the back face of the operation panel 40, which faces the front of thevehicle when the housing 20 is built into the vehicle. The switchcircuit 46 specifies operations of the plurality of operation elements41 and converts signals generated by the operation elements 41 tosignals which can be input to the respective modules 31 to 35.

As shown in FIG. 5, which shows a cross section of one operation element41 and its periphery, the switch circuit 46 includes a switch board 46a, a tact switch 41 b, and a connector 46 c. The tact switch 41 b isfixed onto the switch board 46 a. The tact switch 41 b alternatelycloses and opens every time the input shaft of the tact switch 41 b isdepressed by means of a switch knob 41 a of the operation element 41.The connector 46 c is solder-fixed onto the switch board 46 a in such amanner that the connector 46 c is electrically connected to the contacts(not shown) of the tact switch 41 b via a predetermined switch circuit(not shown) and by means of printed wiring. The connector 46 c has aconnection portion which extends toward the front of the vehicle (thenegative direction of the X-axis) when the housing 20 is fixed to thevehicle.

Next, a process of manufacturing an electronic equipment system havingthe above-described configuration will be described. First, the housing20 and the modules 31 to 35 are prepared. Subsequently, the module 31 isremovably fixed to the top portion of the housing 20 by use of boltswhich are passed through the bolt holes of the mounting portions 31 c ofthe module 31 and screwed into the bolt holes 23 a of the flanges 23.The modules 32 to 35 are fixed to the housing 20 in the followingmanner. The mounting substrates 32 b, 33 b, 35 b, and 34 b aresuccessively inserted into the housing 20 such that the mountingsubstrates 32 b, 33 b, 35 b, and 34 b are arranged, in this sequencefrom the top of the housing 20, and are received by the correspondingslits 22R1 and 22L1. Subsequently, the mounting substrates 32 b, 33 b,35 b, and 34 b are fixed to the housing 20 by use of bolts which arepassed through the bolt holes of the mounting portions 32 c, 33 c, 35 c,and 34 c, and screwed into the corresponding bolt holes 23 a of theflanges 23.

Subsequently, the connectors are connected with one another by use of anunillustrated wire harness. Specifically, the connector (not shown) ofthe display 31 a and the connector 32 a 4 are connected together; andthe connector 32 a 3 and the connector 35 a 5 are connected together.Subsequently, the connector 33 a 1 and the connector 35 a 6 areconnected together; and the connector 34 a 1 and the connector 35 a 7are connected together. Subsequently, the operation panel 40 is fixed tothe housing 20 by use of bolts. At this time, connection between theconnector 35 a 8 and the connector 46 c of the circuit board 46 a isestablished. Subsequently, the integrated connector 36 is connected to avehicle-side wire harness 50 shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Finally, thehousing 20 is built into the space 12 of the instrument panel 11 andfixed to the vehicle body by use of bolts. Thus, the attachment of theelectronic equipment system is completed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the module 33, whichcontains the MD unit 33 a as a third peculiar section, and the module34, which contains the CD unit 34 a as a fourth peculiar section, areremovably fixed to the housing 20 while being physically separated fromother units. Further, the graphic control circuit 32 a 1 serving as afirst peculiar section and the navigation control circuit 32 a 2 servingas a second peculiar section are integrated on the module 32, which isremovably fixed to the housing 20, while being physically separated fromother units. Moreover, the module 35 includes an integrated controlsection which achieves functions (power supply and signal amplification)which are common among two or more of the graphic control circuit 32 a 1and the navigation control circuit 32 a 2; the MD unit 33 a; and the CDunit 34 a. The module 35 is removably fixed to the housing 20, whilebeing physically separated from other units. Further, the operationpanel 40 includes operation elements 41 such as switches and anintegrated switch circuit which achieves a function for processingsignals from the operation elements 41 to be fed to the modules 31 to35, the function being required commonly among the modules 31 to 35. Theoperation panel 40 is removably attached to the housing 20 (i.e., thevehicle).

Accordingly, in the present embodiment, each of the modules 32, 33, and34 can be easily replaced with a different module so as to upgrade ormodify the system, such that replacement of the module 31 including theexpensive display 31 a, the module 35 serving as a control section, etc.is not needed. Therefore, cost involved in upgrading or the like can besuppressed. Moreover, even in a case in which the mounted module 35 isnot suitable for (cannot cope with) an upgraded MD unit 33 a,replacement of other modules 31, 32, and 34 is not required. In such acase, after attachment of the upgraded MD unit 33 a, the module 35 isreplaced with a different module 35 which can cope with the upgraded MDunit 33 a. Therefore, cost involved in upgrading can be suppressed.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, only the operation panel 40 musthave a design that matches the vehicle model; and the modules 31 to 35are not required to have designs that match the vehicle model.Therefore, the types of the modules 31 to 35 can be reduced in number.Moreover, since the housing 20 serves as casings of the modules 31 to35, the modules 31 to 35 need not have individual casings. Therefore,the sizes of the modules 31 to 35 can be reduced in order to increasemounting density and the degree of freedom in design in relation to themount positions and system configurations of the modules 31 to 35.Further, since the electrical connection between the module 35 and theremaining modules 32 to 34 is established at the open face of the hosing20 by use of a wire harness (connection wire) having connectors,assembly and replacement of the modules 32 to 34 can be performed withease. In addition, the modules 32 to 35 are fittedly inserted into theslits 22L1 and 22R1 of the housing 20, thereby facilitating assembly ofthe modules to the housing 20 and replacement of the modules.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment,and various modifications may be employed within the scope of thepresent invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, thepower supply circuit commonly used among the modules 31 to 34 isprovided on the module 35. However, the embodiment may be modified insuch a manner that a power supply circuit commonly used between themodules 33 and 34 is provided on the module 35, and a power supplycircuit commonly used between the modules 31 and 32 is provided on themodule 32.

1. An electronic equipment system for a vehicle which includes anoperation section, a plurality of peculiar sections each having apeculiar configuration for effecting a specific operation and beingphysically separated from other sections, a control section having aphysically integrated portion which provides a common function to two ormore physically separated peculiar sections, and a housing, saidoperation section, said plurality of peculiar sections, and said controlsection being mounted to said housing, and said system being configuredin such a manner that in response to operation of said operationsection, one peculiar section among said plurality of peculiar sectionsand said control section cooperate to provide the specific operation ofsaid one peculiar section, said operating section having a plurality ofswitches each being electrically connected to at least one of saidpeculiar sections or to said control section via a switch circuit,wherein said control section is configured to be mounted to and removedfrom said housing independently.
 2. An electronic equipment systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said housing is removably mounted to thevehicle and has an opening in a face which faces the rear of the vehiclewhen said housing is mounted to the vehicle; and said at least onepeculiar section and said control section are configured to be insertedinto said housing from the opening of said housing and be removablymounted to said housing.
 3. An electronic equipment system according toclaim 2, wherein the opening of said housing is closed by a panelremovably attached to said housing; and said operation section isprovided on said panel in a physically integrated manner.
 4. Anelectronic equipment system according to claim 3, wherein the switchcircuit is integrally provided on said panel.
 5. An electronic equipmentsystem according to claim 1, wherein said peculiar portions and saidcontrol section are formed on corresponding mounting substrates; saidhousing has a plurality of slits on an inner wall surface thereof; andsaid peculiar portions and said control section are fixed to saidhousing in a state in which edge portions of said mounting substratesare received by said corresponding slits.